• Immigrants awaiting inspection in front of Ellis Island's Main Building

    Ellis Island

    Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument NJ,NY

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  • Ellis Island Closed Until Further Notice

    As of May 2013: Due to the conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will be closed until further notice. A projected reopening date has not yet been established, follow our twitter account for updates. More »

Museum Collection

The park's museum collection represents both the cultural and natural resources of Liberty and Ellis Islands. All the items in the museum collection are documented in the computerized database of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior Collection Management System (ICMS). The guidelines that are used to determine the decision to accept an item to the museum collection are outlined in the park's Scope of Collections Statement and generally follow the categories below:

Archeology: the Native American and historic use of Liberty and Ellis Islands

Early European use of Liberty and Ellis Islands, including the construction of Fort Wood and Fort Gibson as part of the military defense system of New York

 

The history and use of Ellis Island as an immigration station and hospital from 1892 to 1954

Ellis Island's use by other government agencies and the military

From Immigration Station to Museum

 

History of the Statue of Liberty, its construction, architecture and restoration

The Statue of Liberty's image in popular culture

The Statue of Liberty as a symbol

 

Natural Resources


Did You Know?

Dorm Room

Although most immigrants processed at Ellis Island stayed between three and five hours, about 20% stayed overnight in dormitory rooms until their cases could be cleared. Many immigrants found these accommodations a big improvement over the severe conditions of traveling to America in "steerage".